The last in our series of all-college conference rosters is the best of the rest, Small Schools. This combines Division II, Division III, NAIA, and U Sports. Last year we combined all of these with the FCS to make a non-FBS roster. This year, we are taking on the challenge of putting together an NFL roster of small school players. Take a look at what the 2017 non-FBS roster looked like here, Non-FBS NFL Roster 2017. After looking at the pool of players, we decided to go with a spread, zone offense and in true small school fashion, a 3-3-5 base defense.
The Criteria
The criteria is very similar to last year with 3 main differences. The addition of a player on their 5th year extension, the spreading of rookie deals throughout different rounds of each draft, and making sure each college in the conference is represented.
- The roster must be under the current salary cap of $177.2M
- We use an even spread of rookie deals roughly based on league averages: 8 from 2017, 6 from 2016, 5 from 2015, and 1 player from the first round of the 2014 draft that is on their 5th year extension (where applicable)
- These rookie deals will also be spread throughout different rounds of that years draft, to better simulate an actual roster
- We will include one rookie from each round of the draft (were applicable)
- Each college in the conference will be represented
- We will have a well rounded roster that includes role players and special team
The Offense
Quarterbacks
| QBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alex Tanny | Joe Callahan | |
| NYG | FA | |
| $555K | $630K | |
| Monmouth (IL) | Wesley |
We had a short list to choose from for the quarterback position, as there is only 1 QB on an NFL roster right now that finished their college careers in D2, DIII, NAIA, or U Sports. The Giants’ Alex Tanney played his college ball at Monouth College, a Division III school in Illinois, where he set numerous NCAA records; including the record for all-time all-division career touchdown passes with 157. Since we didn’t want to have just 1 QB on the depth chart, we dipped into free agency for Tanney’s backup, fellow DIII QB Joe Callahan. Callahan played ball at Wesley College in Delaware. His recent NFL experience includes backing up Rodgers in Green Bay last season (including getting playing time in one game with Rodgers on IR), then on the Eagles practice squad for part of the 2018 season.
2 roster spots filled, 51 left
$1.185M Spent | $176.015M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chris Ivory | Austin Ekeler | Trenton Cannon |
| BUF | LAC | NYJ |
| $2.469M | $557K | $515K |
| Tiffin | Western State | Virginia State |
| CJ Ham | ||
| MIN | ||
| $555K | ||
| Augustana |
Taking the role of starting running back is the only small school veteran runningback, former Tiffin Dragon, Chris Ivory. Taking the role of 3rd down/change of pace back is current Chargers back-up RB, Austin Ekeler. We then have our first rookie of the roster, 6th round pick out of Virginia State, Trenton Cannon. We round out the running backs with our fullback, current Minnesota Viking out of Augustana University, CJ Ham.
4 roster spots filled, 47 left
$4.096M Spent | $171.919M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adam Thielen | Pierre Garcon | Tyreek Hill |
| MIN | SF | KC |
| $6.1M | $9.25M | $705K |
| Minnesota State | Mount Union | West Alabama |
| Keelan Cole | Tyrell Williams | John Brown |
| JAX | LAC | BAL |
| $556K | $2.914M | $5M |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Western Oregon | Pittsburgh State |
| Seth Roberts | ||
| OAK | ||
| $4.45M | ||
| West Alabama |
Here is the strength of this small school roster, with 3 number 1 wide receivers at the top. We’ll start with the man that is currently one of the top receivers in the league, Adam Thielen. He set an NFL record this season starting out the year with 8 straight games with over 100 yards receiving. Starting opposite him on the outside is the veteran from the DIII powerhouse, Mount Union, Pierre Garcon. We round out the starting receivers with our speedster slot receiver from Kansas City, Tyreek Hill. Hill played his college ball for the University of West Alabama after being kicked off the Oklahoma State team for being a piece of shit of a human being. Backing them up is a trio of starting wide receivers. On the outside, we have the Chargers’ Tyrell Williams and the Jaguars’ Keelan Cole, who is the first Kentucky Wesleyan Panther to play in the NFL. In the slot, we have the Ravens’ John Brown. We finish the WRs with special teams contributor, Seth Roberts
7 roster spots filled, 40 left
$28.975M Spent | $142.944M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Delanie Walker | Adam Shaheen | Derek Carrier |
| TEN | CHI | OAK |
| $8.87M | $1.343M | $2M |
| Central Missouri | Ashland | Beloit |
| Dan Arnold | ||
| NO | ||
| $480K | ||
| Wisconsin-Platteville |
Easy choice for the top tight end on this small school roster, as he is one of the most underrated TEs in the league, the Titans’ Delanie Walker. Taking the TE2 spot is the Bears’ 2nd round pick from 2017 from Ashland University, Adam Shaheen. Next we have veteran, journeyman from DIII Beloit College, Derek Carrier. He will be primarily used as a blocking back and on special teams. We finish up the tight ends with former University of Wisconsin-Platteville wide receiver Dan Arnold. Signed as an UDFA with the Saints’ last season, Arnold was moved to tight end this season and shows real potential at the position.
4 roster spots filled, 36 left
$12.693M Spent | $130.251M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Jared Veldheer | T Desmond Harrison | G Ali Marpet |
| ARI | CLE | TB |
| $6.906M | $487K | $1.201M |
| Hillsdale | West Georgia | Hobart |
| G Brandon Fusco | C Ryan Jensen | T Ryan Schraeder |
| ATL | TB | ATL |
| $3M | $12M | $6.475M |
| Slippery Rock | CSU–Pueblo | Valdosta State |
| G Eric Kush | C Brett Jones | |
| CHI | MIN | |
| $1.4M | $2.914M | |
| California (PA) | Regina |
We start the offensive line off with current Broncos right tackle, and former Hillsdale Charger, Jared Veldheer. Starting at left tackle is Browns 2018 UDFA out of West Georgia, Desmond Harrison. Harrison has had a strange football journey from being kicked off the team at Texas, to spending 2 years away from the game, to ending up at D2 West Georgia, to being the guy that is replacing one of the best LT to play the game as an UDFA. Backing them up is current Falcons right tackle, Ryan Schraeder. Moving to the inside, we have our only DIII player of the line, Ali Marpet. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Bucs in 2015, becoming the highest drafted Division III player ever. Starting at the other guard spot is former Gene Upshaw Award winner for best D2 lineman, out of Slippery Rock, Brandon Fusco. Backing them up is current Bears RG, Eric Kush. Starting at center is currently the highest paid center in the league, from CSU-Pueblo, Ryan Jensen. Backing him up is our first Canadian grad of the roster, Brett Jones. Jones attended the University of Regina, where he was then a 2nd round pick of the CFL draft. He went on to win the Most Outstanding Rookie Award then the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in the following season before being signing with the Giants.
8 roster spots filled, 28 left
$34.383M Spent | $95.868M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for 51.3% of the total team salary. While the offensive line accounted for the biggest chunk of that at 42.3%, the wide receivers took up the biggest amount per player, at $4.1M per receiver.
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Damon Harrison | Akiem Hicks | Brandon Williams |
| NYG | CHI | BAL |
| $9.6M | $9.6M | $5.92M |
| William Penn | Regina | Missouri Southern |
| Nathan Shepherd | Zach Sieler | Mike Pennel |
| NYJ | BAL | NYJ |
| $727K | $500K | $2.833M |
| Fort Hays State | Ferris State | CSU–Pueblo |
| Ethan Westbrooks | William Hayes | |
| LAR | MIA | |
| $2.225M | $4.05M | |
| West Texas A&M | Winston-Salem State |
The defensive line is one of the best position groups on this small school roster. We start with our nose tackle in this 3 man front, and our first alum from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Damon Harrison. Harrison didn’t start playing football till his senior year of high school (he was a shooting guard on the basketball team), which led to no scholarship offers. After a semester in community college, he ended up at William Penn University. Moving to the defensive ends, we have our second Regina Ram of the roster, Akiem Hicks. He originally signed to play for LSU, but recruiting violations left him ineligible, leaving his best option to continue his education and football to Canada. We finish the starting d-line with the Ravens’ Brandon Williams. Coming in as a 4th d-lineman, and playing the role of pash rush specialist, is the Dolphins’ Williams Hayes. Backing them up are a pair of rookies, 3rd round pick out of Fort Hays State, Nathan Shepherd, and 7th round pick out of Ferris State, Zach Sieler. We finish out the d-line with the Jets’ Mike Pennel and the Rams’ Ethan Westbrooks.
8 roster spots filled, 20 left
$35.455M Spent | $60.413M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matt Longacre | Matt Judon | Deon Lacey |
| LAR | BAL | BUF |
| $1.907M | $694K | $555K |
| Northwest Missouri State | Grand Valley State | West Alabama |
| Dennis Gardeck | Zach Moore | Nicholas Morrow |
| ARI | ARI | OAK |
| $482K | $705K | $558K |
| Sioux Falls | Concordia | Greenville |
Starting at Sam backer is the Ravens 5th round pick from 2016 out of Grand Valley State, Matt Judon. Starting opposite him at the Will backer is current LA Ram, Matt Longacre. Filling the Mike backer role between them is current Bills backup from West Alabama, Deon Lacey. Backing them up are a pair of teammates from Arizona, defensive end Zach Moore and 2018 UDFA out of Sioux Falls, Dennis Gardeck. We finish out the linebackers with our only DIII alum of the backers, from Greenville University, Nicholas Morrow.
6 roster spots filled, 14 left
$4.901M Spent | $55.512M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Malcolm Butler | Brent Grimes | Brandon Carr |
| TEN | TB | BAL |
| $6M | $8M | $7M |
| West Alabama | Shippensburg | Grand Valley State |
| Kenny Moore | Pierre Desir | Tramaine Brock |
| IND | IND | DEN |
| $555K | $1.563M | $3M |
| Valdosta State | Lindenwood | Belhaven |
| Tavierre Thomas | ||
| CLE | ||
| $480K | ||
| Ferris State |
Here is the other stregth of this small school roster, the corners. We have 3 top, veteran corners, which is why we’ll go with a 5 db set: former Super Bowl darling Malcolm Butler, the Ravens’ Brandon Carr, and the Bucs’ Brent Grimes. Backing them up are a pair of Colts teammates, from Valdosta State, Kenny Moore, and from Lindenwood, Pierre Desir. Then we have our only other NAIA representative, from Belhaven University, Trumaine Brock. We round out our corners with special teams contributor, UDFA out of Ferris State, Tavierre Thomas.
6 roster spots filled, 7 left
$26.598M Spent | $28.914M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Heath | Ron Parker | Marqui Christian |
| DAL | KC | LAR |
| $2.45M | $630K | $630K |
| Saginaw Valley State | Newberry | Midwestern State |
| Erik Harris | ||
| OAK | ||
| $630K | ||
| California (PA) |
We have a couple veterans starting at safety, current Cowboys strong safety, Jeff Heath, and current Chiefs free safety, Ron Parker. Backing up Heath is current Raiders backup from California (PA), Erik Harris. And we round out the safeties with 2016 5th round pick out of Midwestern State, Marqui Christian.
4 roster spots filled, 3 left
$4.34M Spent | $24.574M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for only 45% of the overall team salary. Defensive line took up the biggest chunk of salary, accounting for almost 50% of the money spent on defense. The 3 starting defensive lineman and 3 starting corners combined for 64.7% of the salary on defense and 29.1% of the total team salary.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Greg Zuerlein | P Chris Jones | LS Matt Overton |
| LAR | DAL | JAX |
| $3.55M | $1.7M | $790K |
| Missouri Western | Carson-Newman | Western Washington |
| Head Coach | Bill Belichick | Wesleyan |
Easy choice for kicker on this small school roster, All-Pro from D2 Missouri Western, Greg Zuerlein. And with the Broncos releasing Marquette King, there was one choice left for punter, from Carson-Newman, the Cowboys’ Chris Jones. We finish out with our long snapper from Western Washington, the Jaguars’ Matt Overton.
Former DIII Wesleyan University center and tight end, Bill Belichick, will take the reigns as head coach for this small school roster.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$6.04M Spent | $18.534M Left
The Starting 22
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Alex Tanney |
| RB | Chris Ivory |
| Z | Adam Thielen |
| X | Pierre Garcon |
| Slot | Tyreek Hill |
| TE | Delanie Walker |
| LT | Desmond Harrison |
| LG | Ali Marpet |
| C | Ryan Jensen |
| RG | Brandon Fusco |
| RT | Jared Veldheer |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DE | Akiem Hicks |
| NT | Damon Harrison |
| DT | Brandon Williams |
| Sam | Matthew Judon |
| Mike | Deon Lacey |
| Will | Mattt Longacre |
| CB | Malcolm Butler |
| CB | Brent Grimes |
| CB | Brandon Carr |
| SS | Jeff Heath |
| FS | Ron Parker |
2019 Draft
New for this year, we are including a mock draft for each team for the 2019 NFL Draft. Each player is within a round of where we have them projected as of the time of this post. Obviously the small school mock is going to look a little different. There aren’t any small school 1st round prospects this year, but I do see some for later in the draft. This list will continue to develop as the season goes on, as there are a lot of players to evaluate, but for now, this is who I see having NFL potential.
| Round | Player | Pos. | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 | Corey Ballentine | CB | Washburn |
| 3 | Wes Hills | RB | Slippery Rock |
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 |